Few pets offer the unique blend of grace, strength, independence, and affection available in the common house cat. They are among the most popular pets and can be seen roaming the streets of many towns and cities. Living indoors with cats is a different thing completely. These agile and intelligent creatures can be stubborn so you are going to need some information on how to do so.

Drape cords should be kept distant from cats. Do not allow your cat to play with these. The cords may be looped and a cat may get them wound around their neck. This may hurt them or possibly cause death. Pin and hide drape cords to avoid this.

TIP! If you have drape cords in your home, keep them away from your cats. Never let your cats play with drape cords, as they could seriously injure themselves.

You can make your old cat feel better thanks to a hot tile placed under its bed. You can do this simply with a terra cotta tile measuring a square foot. Heated in your oven around 200 degrees, it can be ready in as little as 15 minutes. Put it inside an old towel, then place it beneath the cat’s bed. If possible, re-heat several times throughout the night.

Female cats need to be spayed as soon as they reach the proper age. It is best to spay your cat, even if you want to keep it as an indoor pet. If you want to prevent this, spay your cat.

If a cat is outdoors frequently, they need a collar that has a tag. Cats sometimes travel a bit when outside, and a tag prevents any mishaps due to your cat being lost. Have your phone number engraved on the tag.

TIP! Keep your older cat comfortable by placing a heated tile underneath its bed. You can do this simply with a terra cotta tile measuring a square foot.

Use bitter apple on your electric cords to keep your kitty away from them. If that doesn’t work, cover those cords up however you can. An inexpensive way to hide electrical cords is to thread them through used paper towel rolls. Any electronic item not in use should be stored away where the cat can’t get to it.

Your house can really get torn apart by a cat’s claws. You need to get a scratching post or a cat tower to prevent your cat from ruining your furniture. Give them some encouragement and let them know it is okay to scratch that. It may take some time and some corrections, but it can usually eliminate the problem.

Litter Box

TIP! A tagged collar is essential if you let your cat outside regularly. Cats can go far from home and without a tag they could become lost forever.

The litter box for your cat needs to be in a good location. Don’t put it in a busy area, and keep it away from your cat’s food. To help control odors place the litter box in a well ventilated area. This will make you and your cat happy.

Crystals in the urine, an issue many male cats have, can be avoided with the proper food. It can be painful to pass these crystals and your vet bill will be priced accordingly. Give your cat foods that are low in magnesium. Check the label. Fish products are usually higher in magnesium.

Cats feel safest in an elevated location. Allow them the space they need to feel safe while checking their world out. If a cat tower is not ideal, a simple shelf that does not have any breakable items can work. For an extra treat, place a blanket or small bed up there too.

TIP! Most cats tend towards nocturnal behavior. Thus, the bulk of their activity will occur at night.

Make sure that you brush your cat’s coat often. This can help spread their fur’s natural oils around and stimulate blood flow to their skin. It’ll also remove all that loose hair. This can reduce hairballs which can be harmful to a cat and build up in their stomachs.

Don’t throw away your cat’s old scratching post. Cats love them! Something new is not necessarily better for a cat, and it may lead them to scratching the furniture.

If you are thinking about adding another cat to your home, you need to set aside a couple of weeks where you let the animals get used to being around each other. They may still hiss and growl when they are in the same room together. Eventually, they will come to tolerate and actually enjoy being together.

TIP! Cats can be great pets for children, but some younger children may be a bit too rough with cats. Make sure your child knows how to pet a cat.

Now that you’ve read this advice, you should better be able to outsmart your feline companion. In a short time, they will understand where they should be and what they need to avoid. While they’re not as easy to train as a dog, they can be well-trained and be made into well-mannered companions for their owners.